Search for special education teacher over

Last Updated on Friday, 12 April 2013 15:00
Written by Elizabeth Barrett
Friday, 12 April 2013 14:52

School board also accepts bid for gym floor work

Finding someone to teach special education can be difficult.

However District 20 administrators found a replacement for special education teacher Judy Jensen, who retires in May, and the school board approved the hire Monday night.

Paul Knopnick, who will graduate from Nebraska Wesleyan University in May, is endorsed in K-12 special education and elementary education.

In related action, the board hired a local graduate to fill an elementary teaching vacancy left by first-grade teacher Blake Erickson.

Brittany (Krepcik) Jesseph, who will graduate from Chadron State College in May, was hired. Jesseph has been a substitute teacher at Dudley.

In other action, the board chose the least expensive of two bids for logos and layout work on the Community Building gym floor.

At their Monday night meeting, members approved a bid for $5,4130 from Midwest Floor Covering, Inc. to whitewash the three-point area, paint Viking and Swede logos and install a border around the court.

A more expensive bid from the same company, at $14,322, would have stained the three-point areas and whitewashed the main court in addition to providing what is offered in the first bid.

High school art teacher Travis Coe suggested that an original Viking head be designed for the floor but activities director Seth Ryker said timing was a problem since the work is scheduled to start after the Gothenburg Alumni Banquet on May 25.

Another facility issue was discussed when Dudley Elementary principal Jim Widdifield shared proposals for the renovation of the south elementary playground.

A new play set will be bought and installed with handicapped accessibility and the rest of the playground equipment will remain with the exception of a wooden structure that was removed.

Rubber surfaces under the equipment are being considered for safety reasons.

Two companies are bidding the project for which $100,000 has been budgeted.

The board also approved 25 slots for teachers and administrators to participate in the laptop purchase program.

District 20 buys laptop computers for teachers and administrators to use at school or home. Participants then pay for 50% of the cost over three years and the computer becomes the property of teachers and administrators.

At the beginning of the meeting, parents of three elementary Destination Imagination teams asked that the district offer financial support for students to attend Global Finals in Knoxville, TN.

The teams qualified for finals during state competition Saturday at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Superintendent Mike Teahon said he would make the decision about the request at a later date.

Last year, the district helped students attend Global Finals but only one team qualified.

On another matter, Teahon said he is leaning toward granting a request from the Gothenburg Dance Centre to have an annual recital in the performing arts center May 17 and 18.

The recital has been at the school in the past but no admission charged as dance centre owner Kami Graham plans to do this year.

Use of the facility for commercial purposes is scrutinized, Teahon said, as is whether or not the event furthers the interests of the district and community.

However a $150 rental fee will be charged, he said.

In other business, the board:

approved the request of fourth-grader Kaden Anderson-Warner to option into the district from Cozad.

learned that a fifth-grade leadership group wrote and received a grant that will replace basketball nets and a tether ball rope and ball on the Dudley playground.

heard that NeSA (Nebraska State Accountability) testing starts next week in the elementary followed by testing in the junior and senior high.

were told than an after-school snack bar has been started in the junior and senior high.

were informed that 70 kindergartners are registered to attend District 20 next year.

heard that a legislative proposal (LB 407) could result in a proposed $600,000 decrease in state aid to the district because of increased valuation in the community.

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